Condolences
Cal and Beth Gust
Our hearts ache for your loss Cory, Tanya, and other family. Uncle Huey had a kind heart and loved Aunt Wilma greatly.
When the McWhiney Family came to the farm in Manitoba for a visit, things got louder almost immediately. Uncle's whistles and loud rebukes of everyone from dogs to kids to adults were often taken with a grain of salt. Strangers would ask "Is he serious or just joking?" We were never sure.
One of my favourite memories was when we decided to burn down our old barn to make room for a new shed. Rats began running away to escape the flames and heat. It was like a rodeo with Huey yelling at the dogs to "get em" and we all chasing rats with pitchforks and spades etc.
Another memory (sorry rats again) was 2 year old Cory ingesting some rat poison at another farm near Minitonas. A quick trip to Swan River hospital to get his stomach pumped, Uncle Huey cried that day.
He once had occasion to meet a girlfriend of mine when we were dating. Within minutes he had embarrassed both her and me.
In his latter years one could sense his love and concern for Wilma and his children and grandchildren.
We too had lunch with him at the North Hill Mall Food Court. It was a sweet time, our last visit with him and Wilma.
Love,
Cal and Beth
Beloved McWhinney and Yarmchuk familIt’s. What a joy it was to be a “favored” nephew of your dad. I echo Marc’s recollection of our many visits with Uncle Huey and Aunt Wilma, often at Oma and Opa Heckert’s house, but wherever such visits took place, they were indeed memorable. These past 12-18 months have been particularly sweet as there was shared time in recollections and reminiscences and occasionally but memorably deep conversation about faith. Over the course of the past 6-8 months when we visited over a cup of coffee at his most sacred and special coffee place (North Hill Mall Food Court) there was laughter and somber remembrances. My most treasured recollection in the recent times, were when Uncle called on me to pray for him. I had made this a regular routine when we parted company. On a few occasions he would say as I was leaving, “aren’t you forgetting something?”. He was reminding me to pause for prayer. It was an amazing and God-delivered miracle that he committed his life to Christ days before his death. My phone conversation with Cory when he had departed the Bowview Nursing Home shortly after Uncle had (in a hoarse, apparently barely audible voice) accepted Jesus, will remain one of my most poignant remembrances in life. I am smiling just now as I write this, because of the enormous joy and amazing gracious love that our beloved Hugh received when he entered Heaven’s gates. No surprise that he was there and welcomed into paradise, but i suspect the whistle and hollering, from him was epic! We grieve with you, but also celebrate a life of sacrifice and now a rightful place seated amongst the saints next to our Lord! Amen and Hallelujah!
Dear Aunt Wilma, Cory, Tanya and family,
We will all miss your husband, dad and opa. We join you in mourning his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to you all.
Here are a few memories:
As nephews, we all came to understand at an early age that our Uncle Huey was one of a kind. He would tease and wrestle with us like no other and had a way of making you laugh incessantly (particularly during the tickle fights). When I (Marc) was about 5 or 6 I remember taking a car ride with him when he asked me if I wanted to drive. Naturally, I said 'yes' and without stopping the car he hoisted me up onto his lap and let me steer the car down 16th Avenue. Thankfully, I didn't do anything rash behind the wheel but I'll always remember the thrill of that moment. Another interesting driving experience was when we were rounding a corner and a rear wheel of his old Austin Healey came off. He calmly kept control of the car on three wheels as he coasted up to our house. Driving with him was always an adventure!
There are many more stories and memories we could relate. Suffice it to say there was never a dull moment when Uncle Huey was around (you could always hear him coming blocks away with that whistle of his), but our fondest memories of him are his many acts of kindness over the years. If you ever needed help with a project or moving something, he was there for you. Missing a tool? He had what you needed (or knew someone who did) and whenever he was leaving or ending a phone call, he would always say, "Call me if you need anything." He never asked for thanks (in fact he would shy away from any kind of praise).
Barb and I were blessed to have known him and we take great comfort in knowing he's safe in the arms of the Savior, free from all sickness and pain.
God bless you all as you say goodbye to this unforgettable man.
Marc and Barb
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